# catch out

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/catch-out
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to expose a mistake or lie

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · British English

to show that someone is doing something wrong or is not telling the truth.

For teachers: to detect or expose an error, inconsistency, or deception on someone's part. Transitive and often used in the passive voice.

- The interviewer managed to catch him out when he lied about his experience.
- The auditor's meticulous review of the ledgers was designed to catch out any staff members who had been falsifying expense reports.

Usage: Often used in the passive: 'to be caught out'.

### 2. to surprise or trap

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · British English

to put someone in a difficult situation because they were not prepared for something.

For teachers: to take someone by surprise, typically resulting in their disadvantage or embarrassment.

- The sudden change in the weather caught many hikers out without warm clothes.
- Investors were caught out by the central bank's unexpected decision to raise interest rates ahead of the quarterly report.

Usage: Frequently takes a direct object between 'catch' and 'out'.

### 3. cricket

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · British English

in cricket, to get a player out by catching the ball before it hits the ground.

For teachers: to dismiss a batsman by catching the ball after it has been hit but before it touches the ground.

- The fielder ran quickly to the boundary and caught the batsman out.
- The captain strategically placed a fielder at deep mid-wicket, hoping to catch out the aggressive opening batsman.

Usage: Specific to the rules of cricket.

## Examples

- The difficult exam questions caught me out.
- The sudden rainstorm caught us out without our umbrellas during the hike.
- The investigative journalist managed to catch the politician out by referencing a contradictory statement made during a private meeting three years prior.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: Focus on the 'surprise' element; it is often used when a person's lack of knowledge or preparation is suddenly revealed by a change in circumstances.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.